Regulatory compliance and the zebrafish

The growth of the zebrafish as a model organism has so far greatly outpaced regulatory oversight governing its care and use in research. However, the same levels of regulation that characterize the use of traditional mammalian model animals will likely be extended to zebrafish, especially as use of the animal continues to increase. The challenge for both the zebrafish research community and regulatory agents is to ensure that emerging guidelines are sensible and serve to promote quality science and the highest standards of animal care. This brief review summarizes a panel discussion that was convened on this subject at the World Aquaculture Society's Aquaculture America 2009 Conference in Seattle, Washington. The current regulatory environment in the United States is discussed, and a set of generalized recommendations for developing new guidelines is presented.